Adjustable width control pod bracket assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11447052-B2
Application number	US-202016819002-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2020
Priority date	Mar 13, 2020
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

A control pod bracket assembly for an operator seat of a work machine adjusts a spacing distance between a right control pod and a left control pod. A right side bracket and a left side bracket having the control pods mounted thereon may be slidably coupled to a center bracket to move between inward and outward positions. Right side bracket and left side bracket locking mechanisms are selectively engageable to lock the side brackets at the inward or outward positions, and to unlock and allow the side brackets to move between the inward and outward positions. Adjustment of the side brackets allows the control pod spacing to be varied between a minimum control pod spacing distance and a maximum control pod spacing distance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control pod bracket assembly for an operator seat of a work machine, wherein the operator seat includes a right control pod and a left control pod, the control pod bracket assembly comprising:
a center bracket having a right bracket guide slot and a left bracket guide slot that are elongated in a transverse direction that is approximately perpendicular to a center bracket longitudinal axis that extends from a front edge of the center bracket to a rear edge of the center bracket;
a right side bracket including a right bracket guide hole and having the right control pod mounted thereon, wherein the right side bracket is slidably coupled to the center bracket to move between a right side bracket inward position and a right side bracket outward position;
a left side bracket including a left bracket guide hole and having the left control pod mounted thereon, wherein the left side bracket is slidably coupled to the center bracket to move between a left side bracket inward position and a left side bracket outward position;
a right bracket guide bolt that is inserted through the right bracket guide slot and engages the right side bracket at the right bracket guide hole so that the right bracket guide bolt is slidable in the transverse direction within the right bracket guide slot to allow the right side bracket to move between the right side bracket inward position and the right side bracket outward position;
a left bracket guide bolt that is inserted through the left bracket guide slot and engages the left side bracket at the left bracket guide hole so that the left bracket guide bolt is slidable in the transverse direction within the left bracket guide slot to allow the left side bracket to move between the left side bracket inward position and the left side bracket outward position;
a right side bracket locking mechanism that is selectively engageable to lock the right side bracket at the right side bracket inward position or the right side bracket outward position, and to unlock and allow the right side bracket to move between the right side bracket inward position and the right side bracket outward position; and
a left side bracket locking mechanism that is selectively engageable to lock the left side bracket at the left side bracket inward position or the left side bracket outward position, and to unlock and allow the left side bracket to move between the left side bracket inward position and the left side bracket outward position,
wherein the right control pod and the left control pod are spaced by a minimum control pod spacing distance when the right side bracket is in the right side bracket inward position and the left side bracket is in the left side bracket inward position, and wherein the right control pod and the left control pod are spaced by a maximum control pod spacing distance when the right side bracket is in the right side bracket outward position and the left side bracket is in the left side bracket outward position.

2. The control pod bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the right bracket guide bolt and the left bracket guide bolt are tightened to prevent relative movement between the center bracket and the right side bracket, and the center bracket and the left side bracket, respectively, and wherein the right bracket guide bolt and the left bracket guide bolt are loosened to allow relative movement between the center bracket and the right side bracket, and the center bracket and the left side bracket, respectively.

3. The control pod bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the right bracket guide slot, the right bracket guide hole, the left bracket guide slot and the left bracket guide hole are disposed proximate the front edge of the center bracket when the control pod bracket assembly is assembled, wherein the center bracket includes a rear right bracket guide slot and a rear left bracket guide slot located proximate the rear edge and that are elongated in the transverse direction, wherein the right side bracket includes a rear right bracket guide hole and the left side bracket includes a rear left bracket guide hole that are disposed proximate the rear edge of the center bracket when the control pod bracket assembly is assembled, and wherein the control pod bracket assembly comprises:
a rear right bracket guide bolt that is inserted through the rear right bracket guide slot and engages the right side bracket at the rear right bracket guide hole so that the rear right bracket guide bolt is slidable within the rear right bracket guide slot to allow the right side bracket to move between the right side bracket inward position and the right side bracket outward position; and
a rear left bracket guide bolt that is inserted through the rear left bracket guide slot and engages the left side bracket at the rear left bracket guide hole so that the rear left bracket guide bolt is slidable within the rear left bracket guide slot to allow the left side bracket to move between the left side bracket inward position and the left side bracket outward position.

4. The control pod bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the right side bracket locking mechanism comprises:
a right bracket inward lock hole defined through the center bracket between a center bracket right edge and a center bracket longitudinal axis that extends from a front edge of the center bracket to a rear edge of the center bracket;
a right bracket outward lock hole defined through the center bracket between the right bracket inward lock hole and the center bracket right edge;
a right bracket lock hole defined through the right side bracket; and
a right bracket lock bolt, wherein the right side bracket is locked at the right side bracket inward position when the right bracket lock hole is aligned with the right bracket inward lock hole and the right bracket lock bolt is inserted through the right bracket inward lock hole and engages the right side bracket at the right bracket lock hole, and wherein the right side bracket is locked at the right side bracket outward position when the right bracket lock hole is aligned with the right bracket outward lock hole and the right bracket lock bolt is inserted through the right bracket outward lock hole and engages the right side bracket at the right bracket lock hole; and
wherein the left side bracket locking mechanism comprises:
a left bracket inward lock hole defined through the center bracket between the center bracket longitudinal axis and a center bracket left edge;
a left bracket outward lock hole defined through the center bracket between the left bracket inward lock hole and the center bracket left edge;
a left bracket lock hole defined through the left side bracket; and
a left bracket lock bolt, wherein the left side bracket is locked at the left side bracket inward position when the left bracket lock hole is aligned with the left bracket inward lock hole and the left bracket lock bolt is inserted through the left bracket inward lock hole and engages the left side bracket at the left bracket lock hole, and wherein the left side bracket is locked at the left side bracket outward position when the left bracket lock hole is aligned with the left bracket outward lock hole and the left bracket lock bolt is inserted through the left bracket outward lock hole and engages the left side bracket at the left bracket lock hole.

5. The control pod bracket assembly of claim 4 , wherein the right side bracket locking mechanism comprises a right bracket intermediate lock hole defined through the center bracket between the right bracket inward lock hole and the right bracket outward lock hole, wherein the right side bracket is locked at a right side bracket intermediate position when the right bracket lock hole is aligned with the right bracket intermediate lock hole and the right bracket

Assignees

• Caterpillar Paving Products Inc

Inventors

• Koshiol Keith Daniel
• Thieschafer Joel N
• Ries Michael W

Classifications

• B60K2026/029

  Joystick type control devices for acceleration · CPC title

• B60K2026/024

  Adjustable consoles, e.g. for changing position of mounting casings · CPC title

• F16M13/022

  repositionable · CPC title

• B60N2/777 Primary

  Transversal adjustment · CPC title

• B60K26/02

  of initiating means or elements · CPC title